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It was very wet and grey at Radipole Lake this morning, very few birds about. As you can see from the photos I took this morning, the water levels are high. Some areas are flooded, wellies are essential if you are visiting the North Hide or heading over to Lodmoor. As I write this the skies are now blue and the sun has come out.

Radipole Lake Discovery CentreRadipole Lake Island

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Tit and Fat Balls

The Discovery Centre is running the Big Garden Birdwatch Family Crafts Day on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th January in preparation for the main Birdwatch event next weekend. Both days start at 9:00 am and run through to 4:00 pm. You can make fatballs to take home for the birds in your garden for free and/or paint a ready made birdbox for £5. Big Garden Birdwatch leaflets are available in the Centre for you to take away. The leaflet has all the information you need on how you can get involved in the big event on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st January. There are pictures of the common birds you are likely to see in your garden or local park.  A survey form is included to record your counts and other wildlife.

This is a drop in event, advanced booking is not required. Contact the Discovery Centre for further information. Hot and cold refreshments and snacks are available. We look forward to meeting you!

 Big Garden Birdwatch 2016What is the Big Garden Birdwatch all about?

The Big Garden Birdwatch started as a children’s activity 37 years ago back in 1979. It is still run in the same simple format today. This means the RSPB have collected 36 years of records for their scientists to analyse. Other surveys has shown that it's not just birds that face problems. The RSPB are also requesting that other wildlife is in gardens and parks is recorded. 

Why take part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch?

 

With hundreds of thousands of people taking part each year, the RSPB get a snapshot of how the birds in the UK are doing. The more people who count, the more accurate that snapshot will be. The results of the survey help the RSPB to spot problems and find ways of putting them right. For example, results show that numbers of house sparrows and starlings have fallen, which could be due to a lack of food or somewhere safe to nest. That’s why the RSPB encourages people to give nature a home near them.

The Big Garden Birdwatch 2015 Results

In 2015 half a million people participated and counted 8,546,845 birds. The data collected has provided valuable information on our garden birds. For example, there are 80% fewer starlings and 58% fewer house sparrows in our gardens. Other interesting results from the Big Garden Birdwatch 2015:

On the upside:

  • The blackbird was the most widely spotted bird in gardens. They were recorded in more that 90% of gardens
  • Robins have climbed 3 places to the number seven spot. In 2014 they were number 10, but just over 85 per cent of you saw them this year.
  • Twice as many people saw wrens in their garden this year than in 2014.They were spotted by 35 per cent of you, the highest number since 2006.

On the downside:

  • Song thrush sightings have declined again, an all time low. They are currently in 22nd place, and like many of our favourite garden birds they remain on the red list.
  • Greenfinches dropped dramatically to 25th place. The drop is likely due to Trichomonosis disease. You can help to fight this disease by giving your feeders, bird tables and bird baths a regular clean.
  • Starling numbers have plummeted by 80% since the first Birdwatch in 1979. Another red-listed species, we are urgently researching the reasons for their decline.

The Top Ten Species counted in 2015:

  1. House Sparrow
  2. Starling
  3. Blackbird
  4. Blue TitCount the Wildlife that's Counting on You
  5. Wood Pigeon
  6. Chaffinch
  7. Robin
  8. Great Tit
  9. Goldfinch
  10. Collared Dove

The Top Ten Species counted in Dorset 2015:

  1. House Sparrow
  2. Blackbird
  3. Starling
  4. Blue Tit
  5. Wood Pigeon
  6. Robin
  7. Chaffinch
  8. Great Tit
  9. Goldfinch
  10. Magpie 

For more information on the Big Garden Birdwatch and to sign up for your free pack, please visit www.rspb.org.uk/Birdwatch

 

You can contact Radipole Lake Discovery Centre by:

Telephone: 01305 778313

E-mail: Weymouth.reserves@rspb.org.uk

Website: www.rspb.org.uk/radipolelake